𝐹𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒹𝓈 𝒲𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝐵𝑒𝓃𝑒𝒻𝒾𝓉𝓈-Ｖｉ （ａｒｃａｎｅ)

A close call, a sketchbook scandal, and a goodbye kiss

~~~

We were all hanging out in the main room, Powder showing Ekko her newest invention, while everyone else just chilled on the sofas. Vi sitting in her chair and me at her feet. Claggor on the couch to our right and Mylo to our left. That's when we heard it. The monkey. It fell from the shelf on which it posted and we knew someone was coming. We all looked at each other and ran up the ceiling to find hiding spots. Except for Mylo, who decided to hide under the table.

The enforcer came in and started searching the place. It was silent, not one of us even dared to breathe. The enforcer went to check under the table but Mylo scurried out just in time. I noticed though that Powder was starting to slip from her spit on a pipe. Everyone prayed she wouldn't fall while the enforcer was below us. He made his way around the room taking his sweet time before slowly making his way to the door. Just as the door shut behind him Powder fell to the ground, her grunt of pain masked by the slam of the aforementioned door. 

After a small while, the door opened again. I was expecting another enforcer but it was Vander. 

"Is everyone okay?" He asked.

Vi finally jumped down from where she hid to respond.

"No, we're not okay. They almost saw Powder! What if they took her?"

"No one is taking any of you, I'd never let that happen." Vander replied.

"It's already happening!" Vi retorted as we all decided to come out of hiding. "You heard him, they won't stop. We need to fight back." She continued.

Vi and Vander left to go talk, I wanted to follow but I knew it wasn’t my place. I laid myself down on the couch and pulled out my sketchbook. All the pages were different colours, as I had built it up over time, with sheets of paper and fabrics I found lying around. It didn’t have a cover and was sewn together with string, pretty shabby but I could still draw. Most of the pages are filled, some are just doodles but most are scenes I see before me. Remembering the previous night, I moved my hand against the paper, my brain travelled as I continued to draw, not really paying attention to what I was doing. 

The pen moved as my brain travelled with it. Going back in time to memories of Vi. Her hands tangled in my hair, her breath on my neck. I felt my face heat up at the thought. I shook my brain out of that mess and looked at my book. Ah, shit, not again. A drawing of a woman lay under my hand. Her pink hair stuck to her face, contorted in pleasure. Half my sketchbook was full of pictures of Vi, in almost any type of life. There were some of her just eating, reading, chatting with Powder, yelling at Mylo, and my favourite, her laying down beside me.

When Vi came back something was odd. The Talk with Vander must not have gone well. Mylo and Claggor didn't seem to read that though.

"Vi, where have you been?"

"Rumour is the lanes are gonna fight!"

She ignored them and walked straight up to Powder, Powder being excited to show Vi the new bombs she created. 

"Look! I made them for the enforcers. These are smoke bombs-" She starts, handing two bombs to Vi before continuing. "-and those two are full of nails!" She motioned to the bombs at her side.

She chuckles as she shakes one of the nail-filled bombs.

"They're gonna work this time. I know it."

Vi sets down the bombs in her hands and inches closer to Powder.

"Me too." She said as she fixed a strand of hair behind Powder's ear. She layed a stuffed bunny in Powder's lap. It's quite a dirty thing. I thought to myself, watching this all go down. 

"You know, Powder, what makes you different makes you strong. Always remember that, okay?" She walks off, leaving Powder staring at the bunny in her lap. 

There was something familiar about that bunny, something I couldn't pug my finger on. It's old. Dirty. It looks like it's been out in the weather. Wait. It's the bunny Vi had when we were little! Why would she give Powder something that meant so much to her? Then the realisation sunk in. It was a goodbye.

But why wouldn't she say goodbye to us too? Now is not the time to be offended. I decided I would be the one to save Vi from doing something stupid, again. As I ran out of the room, Mylo looked at me in confusion. 

"Where are you running off to?"

"I'm trying to save someone from doing something stupid." I said as I slammed the door closed behind me.

Vander stopped me on my way out of the last drop.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

I looked back at him with tears in my eyes.

"I-"

I saw Powder making her way over with the bunny in hand. I knew he would figure it out and I didn't have the time to tell him. So I turned and continued running.

~~~

I opened the door to Benzo’s shop, panting. Vi looked up at me obviously surprised. 

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"What does it look like, doofus."

"You can't change my mind, I have to do this." Her eyes burned with dedication. She knew what she was doing. I let out a small chuckle.

"I know, but I won't let you leave me without a goodbye." I hugged her to hide the tears starting to drip down from my eyes. He should be on his way by now.

She grabbed me by the chin and lifted my head to face hers. 

"I didn't know if I could leave if I tried to say it."

I smiled and kissed her softly. 

"Then don't say it."

This time she kissed me, hard. I could feel everything she was trying to convey through that kiss and I reciprocated 10 fold.

We parted for air as someone walked in.